To observe the expression of cytokine IL-23/IL-17 in patients with and without syndrome of dampness-heat due to spleen deficiency, and explore the relationship between patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and syndrome of dampness-heat due to spleen deficiency. Methods:In total, 60 cases of UC patients admitted in Nantong Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine from July 2014 to March 2016 were selected as the research subjects. ELLSA method was used to test the IL-23 and IL-17 levels of 30 patients with syndrome of dampness-heat due to spleen deficiency, 30 patients without syndrome of dampness-heat due to spleen deficiency, and 20 healthy people. The syndrome of dampness-heat due to spleen deficiency of all research subjects was graded, and the correlation between IL-23 and IL-17 levels and syndrome of dampness-heat due to spleen deficiency was analyzed. Results:The IL 23/IL-17 levels in patients with and without syndrome of dampness-heat due to spleen deficiency increased significantly, and there was significant difference when compared with healthy subjects (P<0.05). There was no significant difference between patients with and without syndrome of dampness-heat due to spleen deficiency (P>0.05). There were statistically significant differences in the serum IL-17/1L-23 levels among patients with mild, moderate and severe UC patients (P<0.05). Conclusion:There was positive correlation between IL-23 /IL17 and the severity of syndrome of dampness-heat due to spleen deficiency.